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Mainsail Café / Songs / Admiral Benbow

Admiral Benbow

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This is one of the many songs to the tune of Samuel Hall, as is William Kidd. This version was a popular English alehouse song, given its familiar tune and patriotic subject matter. A similar version is provided by Capt. Whall in Sea Songs and Shanties.

For more on Admiral Benbow, see Brave Admiral Benbow.

This song is featured in Ralph Vaughn Williams march Sea Songs arranged in 1923 (originally as a movement of his English Folk Song Suite).

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Oh come good people all young and old, young and old,
Oh come good people all young and old.
It's of an Admiral brave called Benbow by his name,
How he fought on the raging main you shall hear, you shall hear.

Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight, for to fight,
Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight.
Brave Benbow he set sail in a sweet and pleasant gale
But his captains they turned tail in a fright, in a fright.

Says Kirby unto Wade, “I will run, I will run.”
Says Kirby unto Wade, “I will run,
For I value no disgrace, even losing of my place,
But the enemy I won't face nor their guns, nor their guns.”

So Brave Benbow gave the signal for to fight, for to fight,
So Brave Benbow gave the signal for to fight.
The ships boxed up and down and the shots they flew all around
And the men came tumbling down, there they lay, there they lay.

Admiral Benbow lost his legs by chain shot, by chain shot,
Admiral Benbow lost his legs by chain shot.
He down on his stumps did fall and so bitterly he did call,
“Fight on my British tars, 'tis my lot, 'tis my lot.”

While the surgeon dressed his wounds, oh he cried, oh he cried,
While the surgeon dressed his wounds oh he cried.
“Let my cradle now in haste on the quarter deck be placed
That the enemy I may face 'til I'm dead, 'til I'm dead.”

'Twas on Tuesday morning last Benbow died, Benbow died,
'Twas on Tuesday morning last Benbow died.
'Twas a shocking sight to see, Admiral Benbow carried away,
He was buried in Kingston church, there he lay, there he lay.

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Metadata

Roud Index: 227
DT Index: 137
Forecastle song

Selected recordings:

Whaling and Sailing Songs Paul Clayton

External links:

Mainly Norfolk entry

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